German Language Classes for Children and Teens

The academic year at the German Institute for the Southwest consists of three 10-week Terms, Fall (September – November), Fall (January – March), Spring (April – May). Additional workshops may be available during the Summer.

Our Fall Terms starts on September 9, for Saturday In-Person Classes in The Woodlands. There is an ONLINE OPTION on Mondays and Wednesday for those students who cannot make it to the in-person class. It is the same registration as in-person classes; you just need to indicate that you wish to participate in the online course. Special workshops also continue online, beginning on September 12, 2023.

Please mark angelika@germansouthwest.org  as an accepted and acceptable mail sender address in your email program.

Location. Our in-person classes take place at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church, 7550 Crownridge Drive, The Woodlands, TX  77382.

Online Classes. All online classes are held via Zoom.  You will need access to a computer, laptop, tablet, or phone connected to the internet.  If you have not downloaded Zoom, you can do so at zoom.us, or if you are outside the U.S., at the Zoom website for your country.

We reserve the right to cancel classes with enrollment of fewer than 5 students.

Click here to register and pay for all child/youth courses

We welcome all children, pre-teens and teens, age of 5 to 16 years, interested in learning and exploring the language and culture of German-speaking countries. We offer classes for students with little or no previous knowledge in German, and intermediate and advanced courses for students able to cope in a German-speaking environment or who speak German at home.

All our teachers are native speakers or have comparable skills in German. A particular emphasis is placed on seasonal traditions and special events in German-speaking countries throughout each current school year. German Unity Day, St. Martin’s Day, St. Nikolaus Eve and Karneval are among the real highlights for our students.

Language Tests. We are affiliated with the Goethe-Institut, the official German cultural organization, and we are licensed to offer and administer the prestigious Goethe language exams, which are recognized world-wide as proof of language skills in German. For more detailed information see: https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf.html

Class Locations. Courses are available online or as in-person instruction on our campus in The Woodlands at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church, 7550 Crownridge Drive, The Woodlands, TX  77382.  Classes in Cinco Ranch/Katy and Fort Bend County are currently postponed while we search for a suitable location for our school.  Online classes are conducted via Zoom, and you can install a basic, free version of the program at zoom.us or the one available in your country.

Course Materials.  Except as noted, there will be a material fee of $35 for in-person classes, and intermediate and upper level classes will require purchase of books.

Proficiency Levels. Our students often have different levels of experience in the German language.  In order for proper placement of each student, we determine the level of proficiency on the first day of a course, and form the classes accordingly. For a description of our various classes and levels, please check this post on our website.

Age Indication for Classes. We indicate the approximate age level of the students in the class in our course descriptions. However, if your child has a birthday during the Fall through Summer Terms and no longer falls in the age group, the student will remain with the teacher with whom the classes started in the fall.

Tuition Discounts. Returning students receive a discount of ten percent for 12-week classes, and there usually is an early registration discount for each session (see below).

Cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a course that does not have the requisite number of students enrolled.

2023 FALL YOUTH CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

Unlock a World of Opportunities – Learn German – the Language of Innovation and Culture – German Courses for Children, Pre-Teens and Teens – All Levels – Small Classes – Individualized Learning – Registration Below

12 Week Standard In-Person German Courses for Children, Pre-Teens, and Teens age 5 – 16 years, Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Sep 9 – Dec 2, 2023 (No Class on November 23,  Thanksgiving Week), $545

30 Hours of Instruction – fuer Muttersprachler und nicht Deutsch sprechende Kinder – for heritage speakers and learners of German! OR

Online – 12-Week German Standard Classes for Children, Pre-Teens, and Teenagers, age 8 – 15 years, Tue/Thu, 6:00 – 7:15 p.m., Sep 12 – Dec 5, 2023 (No Classes during Thanksgiving Week), $545

For busy students or those unable to attend the in-person classes on Saturdays, we offer equally engaging online classes every Monday and Wednesday. Participants learn from the same enriching curriculum as the in-person classes from the comfort of your home. To join our online classes, simply indicate your preference during registration.

10-Week Online Introductory German Class for Beginning Pre-Teens and Teenagers, age 9-15 years, Fridays 4:45 – 5:45 p.m., Sep 8 – Nov 17, 2023, $195

Participants with no prior experience in German first learn to manage successfully basic everyday topics and events in the German language. Encouraging and interactive activities foster their interest in the new language and introduce them to German pronunciation, sound patterns, and to basic German vocabulary.
Course Material: paper, pencil, crayons, scissors, glue

“Beyond the Basics” – 10-Week Online German Class for Beginners with prior experience, age 9-15 years, Tuesdays 4:45 – 5:45 p.m., Sep 5 – Nov 14, 2023, $195

This course is ideal for students who already know greetings, colors, numbers, some names of animals, description of activities, foods, and other simple basics in German. Participants will build on what they have already learned and improve their language skills in all areas: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.
Exciting topics from their everyday lives, as well as fun and interactive tasks, inspire our young participants to be actively involved in all tasks.
Course Materials: paper, pencils, colored pencils, eraser, scissors, glue

“A School Year in Germany” – 10-Week Online German Conversation Class for Advanced Beginners and Intermediate Pre-Teens and Teenagers, age 9-15 years, Thursdays 4:45 – 5:45 p.m., Sep 7 – Nov 16, 2023, $195

This course offers young learners of German, who can already communicate with simple sentences about their immediate surroundings, the unique opportunity to review and apply their German skills in new areas, in addition to standard German classroom learning.
Participants “spend a year abroad” as an exchange student at a German school and experience first-hand the cultural similarities and differences between German speaking countries and their own country. They consolidate and expand their vocabulary and communication skills in a greatly inspiring and enjoyable learning environment through interactive and engaging group activities.
Course Materials: paper, pencils, colored pencils, eraser, scissors, glue